USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > Kansas City > Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. Historical and biographical. Comprising a condensed history of the state, a careful history of Wyandotte County, and a comprehensive history of the growth of the cities, towns and villages > Part 86
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
John A. Textor, farmer and horticulturist, Kansas City, Kas. Of those of foreign birth now residing in Wyandotte County, Kas., none are more industrious and enterprising than those of German descent. Mr. Textor, one of the prominent, and much esteemed citizens of the county, owes his nativity to Bavaria, Germany, his birth occurring near the old city of Minchen, April 23, 1848, and needs but little in- troduction to the people of Wyandotte County. He emigrated from his fatherland when but five years of age, and landed with his parents in New York City, where he spent three years. After this he spent two years and a half in Philadelphia, from there he went to St. Louis, thence to Clinton County, III., where he remained six years, and then re- turned to St. Louis, where he made his home until 1876, when he emigrated to Wyandotte County, Kas. He was the eldest of twelve children-six sons and six daughters-six of whom are living at the present time, viz. : Johanna (resides in Wyandotte County, and is the wife of Albert Garnier, who is a successful horticulturist), Chriscentia (resides in St. Louis, and is the wife of Earnest Kearcher, who is a merchant there), Rosina (resides in Philadelphia, Penn., and is the wife of George Daenzer, who is a showcase manufacturer at that place), Frances (resides in Philadelphia, and is a dressmaker by occu- pation), and George (resides in St. Louis, married Miss Lena Trapp, and is a fine musician). The father of these children was also a native of Germany, and was a brewer by trade. He is now deceased, and his
854
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
remains are interred in St. Louis, Mo. The mother, who was also a native of Germany, is also deceased. Both were well educated. The father was a great student and reader, was unusually well educated, and was a fine conversationalist. He was a great traveler; had been all over Russia, Germany, Switzerland, France, Holland, and spent about eight years in going from one country to the other. John A. Textor received his early education in the public schools, and after- ward took a full course in Jones' College in St. Louis. He was a rectifier of spirits by profession, and carried on this business for four years at a large salary. He started out for himself at the age of twenty-four years with limited means, but with a willing pair of hands, and a business tact and acumen which were his guiding stars to his signal success in life. He married Miss Anna Benz, a native of Baden, Germany, born September 1, 1849, in St. Louis, in September, 1873. She was educated in the German language in Baden, and is also well educated in the English language. To this union has been born one little son, Edward Frederick, who is now six years of age. Mr. Textor has always been identified with the Republican party, has been an active politican in his township, and his influence is percep- tibly felt over the entire township. He is a gentleman who has always endeavored to exercise his franchise for men of principle and honor. Mr. Textor was deputy sheriff of Wyandotte County, for a term of two years, and he admirably filled this position to the satisfaction of all his friends and his party. He is chairman of the Wyandotte Township Central Committee, has held this important post for four years, and has been an active member of the Board of Education, in his district for nine years. When he first entered the office the district was in debt $140, and besides this they were compelled to borrow $160 for teacher's salary. Mr. Textor is at present clerk of the board, and the district has erected new outbuildings, put in new furniture, repaired the house, and have about $1,100, in the treasurer's hands, thus show- ing the excellent ability Mr. Textor has as a man of business, and also shows that the utmost confidence has been placed in him throughout. Mr. Textor is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has been since he was twenty-two years of age. He is of the opinion that the Farmers' Al- liance is a great move for the interests of the farmers, if they will only cling together. Mr. and Mrs. Textor are devout members of the German Catholic Church, in Wyandotte, Kas., and they have contrib- uted to all benevolent and charitable callings which have been before their worthy consideration. When he first came here.Mr. Textor pur-
855
WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
chased twenty-eight acres of land at $45 per acre, and this property lies at the present time within a distance of two miles of the city limits of Kansas City, Kas. When he first came here his present beautiful and valuable farm was a perfect wilderness and thicket, the only habi- tation to be seen being an old Indian hut. Wyandotte City contained a population of scarcely 700. Mr. Textor is a very industrious citizen, and has beautified his fine property to such an extent, that it is one of the most valuable on Minnesota Avenue. He values his land at $1,000 per acre, but does not care to sell. His place of residence is near or will be in the limits of the city at no distant day. His residence is neat and comfortable, and his outbuildings are commodious and sub- stantial. He is a model farmer and horticulturist, and among the leading varieties of fruit raised on his place are the following: Apples, cherries, peaches, pears, plums, crab-apples, etc., and in small fruit he has strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, currants and standard va- rieties of grapes. Besides this he raises a great many of the standard vegetables. Mr. and Mrs. Textor have witnessed the wonderful growth made in the country in the time they have been here, and in their own place they have made many and vast improvements. The best of this is that they have made it all by their own efforts, and by hard labor and great perseverance. Here they expect to make their future home, where, surrounded by friends, who hold them in high esteem, they will pass the remainder of their days.
George Thiret, farmer and horticulturist, Kansas City, Kas. Mr. Thiret resides on Section 1, Wyandotte Township, Wyandotte County, and is recognized as one of the leading farmers and horticulturists of the county. His farm is situated three miles west of Kansas City, and consists of 116 acres of mostly improved land. Mr. Thiret owes his nativity to Pennsylvania, his birth occurring near Pittsburgh, Feb- ruary 21, 1845, and is the youngest of four children : John M. (married, resides in Pennsylvania, and is a carpenter and joiner by trade), Cath- erine (died at the age of about forty years, was married), and Nich- olas (who is a blacksmith and mechanic by trade, and also resides in Pennsylvania). The father was a native of Bavaria, and was a farmer by occupation. He died at the age of eighty-six years. The mother was also a native of Germany, and died in 1860, at the age of sixty years. George Thiret received his education in the common schools of Pennsylvania, and started out for himself at the age of sixteen, with limited means, but with a strong pair of hands and a willing heart. He first engaged in the creamery business at Allegheny City, Penn., but
6
856
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
afterward went to South Bend, Ind., and thence to Chicago, where he was salesman in a grocery for seven years. After this he embarked in railroading at Omaha, Neb., for the Union Pacific Railroad, and from there went to Kansas City, Mo. He left there after a short time and again started out railroading on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad. April 30, 1872, Mr. Thiret was married to Miss L. A. Mad- dox, a native of Indiana, who received her education in the common schools, and who is a lady of culture and refinement, and has stood firmly beside her husband through all hard trials, and always willing to do her share. To them was born one daughter, Josephine, who is an accom- plished young lady, and quite proficient in music and penmanship. She attended the common schools, then took a course of higher instruc- tion, and is a young lady of most excellent attributes of character. Mr. Thiret has always identified himself with the Democratic party, except one time, when he advocated the Greenback principles, since then he has upheld the true principles of Democracy. He cast his first presidential vote for Hon. Horatio Seymour, of New York. He is at present Wyandotte Township treasurer, and for three years has been road supervisor of Bulick highways. He is a gentleman who has at heart every enterprise which tends to develop his country. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F., at Kansas City, Kas., and a member of the Farmers' Alliance. Although he has not been an ultra-partisan in politics, he has at all times exercised his right of franchise in a di- rection which would support men of principle and honor. Mr. Thiret was born and reared in the Lutheran Church, and Mrs. Thiret is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They are respecters and supporters of the principles of religion which elevate to higher and nobler aspirations. Mr. and Mrs. Thiret emigrated to Wyandotte County, Kas., direct from Chicago, without a dollar, and began life in this new country. Here they have worked together with great indus- try and economy, which are the highest commendable attributes of praise. They have a beautiful home, and Mr. Thiret is an extensive fruit-grower, shipping a great deal of his fruit North. He has twenty acres in small fruit, such as strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and also has a vineyard of five and a half acres of fifty different varieties, the most prominent for market being: Concord, Goethe, Elvira and Champion, and has thirty acres in orchard of the finest leading vari- eties of apples. He supplies the home markets in grapes, and takes great pride in showing the products of his farm at most all the princi- pal fairs in the West, and he always takes the first premiums, and has
857
WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
ever done his part in proudly advertising his county with his exhibits. The fruit farm which he owns. and which is so valuable, was a wilder- ness when he and Mrs. Thiret bought their land, and it shows with what an effort they have cleared and improved their present valuable property. Mr. Thiret claims Wyandotte County to be one of the best counties in the State for fruits of all kinds, and is well rewarded for his hard labor now. Mr. Thiret will dispose of eighty acres of his choice farm land at a price which would guarantee true satisfaction, since he expected to make the fruit business his future avocation, and will not need so much land. Mr. Thiret relates, in a very interesting manner, the terrible grasshopper scourge in 1875, when nearly every- thing was eaten by the pest, and the trials and vicissitudes which he and his family passed through would fill a volume. Aside from their property here they are the owners of four nice building and business lots in Armourdale, now part of Kansas City, Kas., and three lots in Old Kansas City, Kas. They expect to make their future home where they now reside, and are comfortably established, and expect to see Kansas City, now the metropolis of Kansas, the leading city of the Southwest before many years. Mr. Thiret is a friend and supporter of all good educational institutions, and is a representative citizen of the county, and always is willing to lend a hand to promote the indus- tries and welfare of his county.
R. B. Thomas, secretary and treasurer of the Consolidated Iron Works, Kansas City, Kas., is a gentleman of sterling worth and integrity, and respected in all circles. The above large plant was established at Second and Nebraska Avenues January 1, 1889, under the firm name of C. R. Griffith & Co., and in February of the same year was destroyed by fire, the insurance being only $1,000. Inside of four weeks they had rebuilt at Oakland and Third Streets, at a cost of $10,000, under the name of the Griffith & Thomas Co., and were in running order. They have met with extraordinary success, their trade beginning with a product of three tons daily, and has increased so rapidly that they were compelled to build an additional plant in Cypress Bottom, corner Central Avenue and Fourth Street. A stock company was organized, now known as the Consolidated Iron Works Company. The firm consists of the following individuals: C. R. Griffith, Jr., president, and R. B. Thomas as secretary and treasurer. They make a specialty of elevator castings, sash weights, hitch weights, brick kiln castings, railroad castings, cast washers, grate bars and a general line of castings. They handle the home trade and have
54
858
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
established a large trade in the Southern, Northern and Western States. Their capital stock is $30,000 paid up. They use up all the tin scraps and all kinds of old cans, using the tin cuttings from the packing-houses for the manufacture of ordinary castings. A finer grade of iron is used for their general castings. They employ about 100 men, and have an output of twelve tons per day, with a value of $125,000 to $150,000, and a rapid increase. The stock is earning good dividends. They assist the home industries by patronizing the home banks, etc., and consider this city as one of the future manu- facturing centers. R. B. Thomas has been engaged in this business for a period of two years, coming from New York City. His birth occurred in Brooklyn May 11, 1865, and he was reared to manhood in the Empire State, receiving his education in the Brooklyn schools. At the age of fourteen years he commenced life for himself as an office boy in the Long Island Railroad office in Long Island City, N. Y., and was promoted from time to time until he became secretary to the general superintendent of said road, having full charge of said department. He also has held the position of private secretary to the general auditor and first vice-president of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company at Boston, and secretary to the president of the New York & Northern Railway Company, Col. Joel B. Ear- hardt, who is now collector of the port of New York. Since Mr. Thomas has been West, he has had the honor of being tendered the position of secretary to Col. Earhardt as collector of the port, but his financial and business ties in the West prevented his accepting. His parents, Evan P. and Emma M. (Griffith) Thomas, were natives of New York. The father was in the wholesale dry goods business in New York City and was quite a wealthy citizen. He died in 1878, leaving a widow and three children: Everett V. and William G. Our subject, R. B. Thomas, was married in 1887 to Miss Mary Titus Broas, a native of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and the only child of ex- Assemblyman Benjamin S. Broas, of that city. In his political views Mr. Thomas is a Democrat, but is non-partisan in his local elec- tions. He and Mrs. Thomas are members of the Dutch Reformed Church, and, socially, he is a member of the R. A. C. R. Griffith, Jr., president of the Consolidated Iron Works Company, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., December 27, 1863, and is a son of C. R. and Louise (Keil) Griffith, natives of the Empire State. The father was born in New York State, and is special agent of the R. G. Dunn agency, with headquarters in Chicago. The paternal grandfather of
859
WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
our subject followed the sea, was captain of his own vessel, and was drowned while attempting to save his passengers during a storm on the Gulf of Mexico. When last seen he was on a raft, after saving all his passengers, and his last act was to cut a rope by which the raft was held to the vessel. C. R. Griffith remained in his native city until nearly grown, and then started for the great West with $5 in his pocket, landing in Chicago, where he entered the employ of R. G. Dun & Co. He remained with this company six months and then accepted a position with the King & Andrews Iron Company, of Chi- cago, as office boy, continuing in that capacity for two years, when he was elected secretary of the same company. Later his attention was called toward Kansas City, Mo., as a good point for business, and in 1888 he came here. He and Mr. Thomas bought out the old Pugh & Morris Foundry, commenced anew under the firm title of C. R. Grif- fith & Co., and after the fire, as above mentioned, the title was changed to Griffith & Thomas Co., and then to the Consolidated Iron Works Company. In politics Mr. Griffith affiliates with the Democratic party, but is not a strict partisan in local politics.
Hon. James F. Timmons. He whose name heads this sketch is a farmer and stock-raiser of Wyandotte County, Kas. His father, Stephen Timmons, was born in Worcester County, Md., in the year 1769, and his mother in Sussex County, Del., in 1779. His educa- tion was received in the common schools, and at the early age of six- teen, he, in company with his widowed mother, took charge of a small farm. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving as a private without a day's absence from duty for three years, but did not re-enlist because it was his opinion that when military anthorities in Ohio found a man could not understand a complicated piece of machinery, as a cap-lock musket, they gave him a line officer's sword. Mr. Timmons married Miss Margaret A. Mallow, daughter of John and Elizabeth Mallow, in the year 1867, and in 1870 moved to Kansas, locating in Wyandotte County, on the line of the Union Pacific Railroad, and on this place he con- tinues to reside. His first wife dying in 1871, he married Miss Maria J. Grinter, daughter of James C. and Rosanna Grinter. Their mar- riage took place in 1872, and they are the parents of four children. Born of Southern parents, he imbibed the spirit of the times of Thomas Jefferson, and hated slavery as a mortal sin, both from political and religious convictions. He has been a radical on all political issues, and voted for Peter Cooper for President in 1876, Weaver in 1880, and
860
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
Harrison in 1888, and is still an ardent Republican. Mr. Timmons was at the head of the Farmers' Grange movement, and is at the pres- ent writing identified with the Farmers' Alliance, but does not believe that their political management will amount to anything. He was twice elected legislator from his county, and had a law passed for the improvement of county roads, but failed to get fees and salaries ad- justed to a fair proportion of the earnings of men of similar vocations. In his religious opinions, Mr. Timmons thinks Christ's teaching a good guide for life. By his first marriage he has two children, viz. : Elizabeth H. and Joseph M., and by his second marriage four children named as follows: James Loga, Rosanna, Dot and Saint.
G. W. Toothaker, real estate owner and dealer, Argentine, Kas. In a new section of country, such as that surrounding Argentine is, comparatively speaking, real-estate transactions are of much impor- tance and the business of the real estate agent must be classed among the leading lines of commercial industry. Among those prominently engaged in this business in Argentine is Mr. Toothaker, who was born near Quincy, Ill., March 7, 1847, and who is the third of five children born to G. and Elmira (Roberts) Toothaker, the father a native of Maine, and the mother of Pennsylvania. The father was reared in his native State, and was a successful agriculturist by occupation. G. W. Toothaker remained in his native State until 1857, and then came to Kansas, where he received a good education, graduating in Baker's University, at Lawrence, Kas., in 1872. Afterward he went to the Pacific coast, where he remained nine years. engaged in specu- lating, mining and other interests, and where he met with fair success. He returned to Lawrence, Kas., in 1884, and in the following year became interested in the welfare of the city by investing in real estate here, and is now the owner of a great amount of city and country property. He does a large business in loan brokerage and fire insur- ance for the leading companies. He was married in 1884, to Mrs. Belle Osborn, who bore him one child, Mary Belle. Mr. Toothaker is a Republican in his national issue, but locally he is Independent. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and an ex-I. O. O. F. In 1857 he joined Company D, Eighth Artillery, under Capt. Cochran, and was assigned to frontier duty. He was captured by Quantrell in 1862, at Independence, Mo., and paroled. During this time Mr. Toothaker was on the route of Quantrell, when he burned Lawrence. He was in the volunteer service, under Gen. Lane, participating in the different skirmishes. He was mustered out in the fall of September, 1862.
861
WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
John W. Toy is a worthy citizen of Kansas City, Kas., and as a man of business has not his superior in this section of the country. Like his brothers, with whom he is associated in business, he was born in Franklin County, Ohio, on April 1, 1853, and there attained his majority and was educated. His early days were spent as a tiller of the soil, and this occupation continued to receive his attention until his removal West in the spring of 1880. His marriage, which took place on April 23, 1876, was to Miss Ella Lucas, who was born on February 22, 1854, also in Franklin County, Ohio. Mr. Toy has been a resident of Kansas City, Kas., since 1880, and in this city has won an enviable reputation as a man of business and also as a public- spirited citizen. He and his brothers, Joseph F. and Harrison S. constitute the well-known grocery firm of Toy Bros., and the only business change which the firm has undergone since he joined it was the retirement of Edward C., another brother, which took place in 1885, he removing to Dakota. The success which this firm has en- joyed is almost phenomenal, and for a number of years it has been the leading grocery firm of Kansas City. Their retail establishment lo- cated at No. 609 Colorado Avenue is in charge of John W. Toy, this store being first established at No. 338 South Fifth Street, in 1886. It is admirably conducted, and now has a large patronage. Mr. Toy removed to his present stand in May, 1890, and is established in com- modious and comfortable quarters. It is the leading place of the kind in that portion of the city known as Armstrong, and in addition to a first-class stock of groceries, there is also carried in their store, a stock of gents' furnishing goods. This store has grown into popular favor, and is now recognized as an excellent place to trade by all citi- zens of that section, for besides being suited with the quality of the goods, the prices are reasonable. He and his wife are the parents of four children: Edgar C., Olive May, Howard and Walter. Mr. Toy is a courteous and agreeable gentleman to deal with, and being upright in every particular, he is deserving of the highest esteem and respect.
J. F. Toy is a business man of Kansas City, Kas., whom all honor, for his traits of character are of a high order, and he was never known to do a mean action. His birth occurred near Peoria, Ill., March 11, 1858, he being a son of Harrison and Rebecca (Brobeck) Toy, who were born in Pennsylvania, and when children were taken by their parents to Ohio, where they were reared and married. The former was born in 1818, and a son of Wesley Toy, who was by birth also a Pennsylvanian. Harrison spent his early life in Pickaway County,
862
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
Ohio, and on reaching manhood he adopted the calling of a farmer, the details of which he had learned from his father, and this calling re- ceived his attention throughout life. His marriage took place Decem- ber 25, 1845, to Miss Brobeck, who was born about 1825, and who bore him eight children, seven of this family now living-five sons and two daughters. Their names are: Louisa, an infant daughter that died unnamed, Charles W., Anna, Harrison S. and John W. (twins), Joseph F. and Edward C. When the war opened Mr. Toy joined Company F, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served three years, and during that time was wounded in battle and placed in the hospital, where he contracted an illness from which he never recovered, his death, however, occurring at his home in Franklin County, Ohio, about 1863. His widow also died there, her death taking place some ten years later, in the month of February. They resided in Franklin County, Ohio, from the time of their marriage up to their deaths, with the exception of about three years, just before and after the birth of the subject of this sketch, at which time they resided near Peoria, Ill. J. F. Toy was reared to manhood in Franklin County, the summers being devoted to farm work and the winters to attending school, until he reached the age of seventeen years, after which he quit school and devoted his attention to the farm. When twenty years of age, he be- came associated in business with his brother Charles W., which was a grocery establishment, in Columbus, Ohio. At the expiration of about one year, he sold out to his brother, and in company with two other brothers, Harrison S. and Edward C., he came West and located in Kansas City, Kas., this being in 1880, and within three months af- ter locating here they opened a grocery store, and the firm of Toy Brothers has existed ever since, being now the leading grocery firm in the city. About three years after the business had been established, another brother, John W. Toy, came to Kansas City, from Ohio, and became a member of the firm, but in the fall of 1885 Edward C. re- tired and removed to Dakota, since which time the firm has been com- posed of John W., Harrison S. and J. F. They have been very successful, and their place of business became so popular that they found it necessary to enlarge their establishment, and they now have three large and well-stocked stores, one wholesale and two retail. The former is located at the corner of Third Street and Minnesota Avenue, and is in charge of J. F. Toy, while the two retail establishments, lo- cated at 414 and 416 Euclid Avenue, are conducted, respectively, by Harrison S. and John W. On September 29, 1886, the subject of
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.